Hooked, Line and Sinker Club   Don't forget to use your $20  New Years gift credit by January 31!

Our next road trip is scheduled for March.  We'll be at the Virginia Rugfest in Richmond with the Shockoe Slip Rug Hookers on March 28.  If you are anywhere close check it out. Elizabeth Black is the featured speaker.  They have a great show and a beginner's class. Click on their link below to view their website with pictures of previous years' show rugs.

Hit or Miss

I promised myself that I would use some of my wool stash before I buy any new.  I often hook with a 6 cut and found myself with a big bag of woolie worms.  So I used some up to hook Jackye Hansen's Bull's Eye chair pad.  It's an adaptation of the classic cat's paw design and a fast and easy project.  It's also a great way to use up some leftovers.

I divided my worms into 3 piles by color value: light, medium, and dark.  I used the light pile for the bull's eye center, the outside ring, and the small spots.  The middle ring was hooked from the medium pile.  I used the darkest pieces for the background, just mixing them up.  For the border, I used a leftover green and red plaid.

A HINT to keep a nice round piece:  After most of the center is finished, hook the border starting at the outside ring,  I hooked four rows of border and then hooked the background to meet it.

Funny, but after I finished the chairpad, my bag of worms doesn't look any smaller!--Debra

Punch Needle Patterns

All of our patterns can be drawn in reverse to use the punch needle.   Just ask...same speedy service!

Label your rugs.  With just your name and date.  Or add a title, with the designer's and your teacher's names.  Or add a short story of why you hooked it, what the design means to you. Or add a dedication.  Some keep a little card with the dye shades listed or a bag of extra wool strips for repairs (which is way too organized for me).  But label your rugs with things you may forget and things that others may never know.- Debra

Words of wisdom

"No matter how long he lives, no man ever becomes as wise as the average woman of forty-eight."--H. L. Mencken

Links

LINKS to our favorite Suppliers, Artists, and Associations

Gene Shepherd is one the most talented rug hookers we know.  He has a blog attached to his website, GeneShepherd.com/blog1/ .  He has instructions on finishing pillows, finishing brick doorstops, and all kinds of incredible photos from the West Coast rug hooking world.  You have to visit regularly!

ATHA - www.atharugs.com - Association of Traditional Hooking Artists -The goal of publishing both the ATHA Newsletter and this ATHA Website is to inform and educate members and, soon-to-be members about rug hooking happenings around the world. We are a close-knit group (all 3500 of us)! We travel, and we love to stop in and visit rug hooking shops, teachers, designers, groups, rug shows, etc. We often plan a trip JUST to work in a visit or two with a new friend, an ATHA Chapter or school. Our Resource link gives travelers information on where to locate teachers, designers, rug hooking studios and shops.

Dorr Mill Store - wonderful wools and fabrics www.dorrmillstore.com

1840 House,  Jackye Hansen - our Mentor and Designer www.rughookersnetwork.com/jacqueline-designs/index.htm 

National Guild of the Pearl McGown Hookrafters - The purpose of the National Guild of Pearl K. McGown Hookrafters Inc. is to educate and inform the public about the craft of rug hooking. We hope that you will enjoy exploring more information about the craft  www.mcgownguild.com

Jon Ciemiewicz teaches traditional rug hooking with a non traditional flair. www.anajon-hooking.com

Virginia Rugfest Rug Show and Hook-in web site.
 www.geocities.com/varugfest/